Shadows (Villanelle) by Elaine Patricia Morris
Shadows give no age away
gardener's spade against the wall
shows no moisture, no decay
Prune the rose, cut back the bay
daffodils, tulips, plant them all
shadows give no age away
Bees and butterflies at play
Canterbury bells grow tall
full of moisture, no decay
Sunlight shortens every day
Autumn apples start to fall
shadows give no age away
Eddie struggles, walks with sway
falling fence and crumbling wall
show no moisture, no decay
Wishing only youth would stay
old man stooped no longer tall.
Shadows give no age away
show no moisture, no decay.